Umbrella structure



Aug. 21, 1934. K T NORRIS E AL 1,970,813

UMBRELLA S TRUCTURE Filed July 9, 1932 7% 9 Inventor fienrzeikfjv'wrm 12E Rai'ihun L Attorney Patented Aug. 21, 1934 azQUNITED STATES UMBRELLA STRUCTURE Norris i Kenneth T. Norris and Homer E..Rath bu n, Ilos Angeles, Calif.; said Rathbun assignor to said Application July 9, 1932,"Serial No.621,549 I This invention relates to umbrella structures and particularly to a type of umbrella structure or frame of large size, and used principally on lawns, beaches, etc., as sun shades.

The object of this invention is:

7 To provide a collapsible frame including bows and braces hingedly connected together and connected with the usual top notch at the end of a'pole, and with a runner slidable on the pole,'and

to limit the inward movement of the bows and braces when the frame is collapsed, so as to preven'tthe toggles formed by the bows and braces from-settling inwardly against the pole at or over dead center positions.

"2'0- brella frame partially'open with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the umbrella frame with the cover removed, broken away at points. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a '25 suitable top notch.

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, transverse sections of a suitable geat on lines 4-4 and 5 -5 respectively of Fig. 2.

'Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of theframe on line 50 12-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 'i i'sa fragmentary elevation of the sliding sleeve or runner and pole shown in Fig. 2 with the braces attachable to the bows shown hingedly connected to said sleeve.

Fig. Sis a perspective view of a typicalform of geat embodying our improvements.

v Fig. 9 is a perspective view typical of the ends of the braces and the upper ends of the bows showing our improved means for hingedly connecting the bows and braces withthe'top notch, geats and slidingsleeve.

-As is characteristic of umbrellas and frames of this type, the structure shown includes a central pole or shaft'lwith a reduced upper end '2,

and provided with an annular shoulder 3 against which shoulder-a top notch 4 is held on the up--' per extremity of the pole. A sliding sleeve or runner 5 is mounte d on the lower portion of. pole 1 and includes certain improvements of our in "56 vention; and has the usual plurality of bows 6, '6

etc. hingedly connected at their upper extremities to the top notch 4' and'extending downwardly andoutwardly' therefrom. A plurality of braces 7, 'Tetci; corresponding'in number and position to th'b'ows 6, are hingedlyconnecte'd attheir'lqwer V 12 Claims. (01. 135- 22) extremities to the sleeve 5 and attheir upper ex tremities to geats 8, 8 etc. re'spectively, said geats being positioned centrally between the upper and lower extremities of the bows.

Thus'as the sleeve 5 is moved upwardly on pole 1 the braces land bows 6 appreach horizontal positions until the sleeve reaches aposition of rest substantially below the top notch 4. b

The top notch 4 and sleeve 5 are substantially the same in form, particularlyas to the means of connecting the bows and braces thereto." The top notch is formed of two sheet metal parts including an upper member 9 and a lower member 10. The member10 has a central opening 11 therein to receive the end 2 of pole 1, and has a flat body portion adapted to rest against the shoulder 3. The members 9 and 10 are formed with peripheral segments 12 and 13 which are separated by radially disposed slots 14, and the segments 12 of the member 10 are bent slightly downwardly and outwardly and thence upwardly at 15, asshown in Fig. 3, to-provide seats for hinge pins 16 which are carried in the upper ends of the bows 6.

' The upper member 9of the top notch has a central apertured neck 17 which fits over the end portion 2=ofthe pole and is curved downwardly and outwardly and is provided on' its periphery with the segments l 3'an'd the slits 14 between said segments; It will be noted, however, that the segments 13 are substantially longer in radial directions than the adjacent segments 12 on member 10, and the segments 13 are bent so as'to overlie the upwardly turned portions 15 on the member 10, thence downwardly over the outer faces of said portions, and finally inwardly under the segments 12 thereby permanently securing the two members 9 and 10 of the top notch together. j

, The segments 12 and 13 are so formed as to provideseats or bearings 17 for the pins 16 of the bows 6.] The'top notch is held against removal from the pole by means of a pin 9'-which extends thru the portion 2 of the pole and engages the upper end of neck 1'7 of member 9.

,As shown in Fig. 9 it will be observed that the bows 6 are flattened attheir upper ends, as at 18, and the pins 16 are driven into'and suitably secured against removal from the portions 18. Said pins are so positioned that the opposite end portions thereof will project outwardly from the opposite sides of the portions 18 for'substantial dis-* tances. Thus-the extended portions of the pins 16 will hingedly seat in the adjacent bearings 17 V on opposite side'sofeach'of the slits 14 in thetop ,notch and the flattened portions 18 of the jbOWs 110 will be positioned as shown in the slits 14 so as to permit the swinging of the bows when the frame is collapsed and extended.

The geats 8 are supported on and intermediate the ends of the bows, as shown, and are formed of a single piece of sheet metal so as to provide elongated sleeve portions 19 which tightly fit the bows 6. Said geats are provided with radially, dis} posed fiat extensions 20, 20 whicha're' perforated at 21 so as to receive rivets 20', wherebythe portions 20 may be held tightly in abutment for 1111- movably clamping the geats on the bows.

from the extensions 20 and are spaced apart so as braces are pivotally attached by means of pins 24 to the extensions 22, 22; and" said pins havefiiand; the bow-and brace structure may be removed as a unitfrom the pole 1 by detaching the retaining pin '18 from the pole.

bearings in perforations 25, 25 formed in the ex tensions 22, 22. Y 1 It will be noted that the extensions 20 and 22 are ,continuations of each otherand that the lines of juncture between the'extensions 20 and, 22 are inclined downwardly as at 26, so that thefspac'es 27 within which the portions 23, of the bracesfare' positioned are closed at the lines 26. Thusthe braces 7, asfs'hown in Fig. 2 will'be limited in their swinging movementabouttheir axes 24. as

the sleeve 5 is slidably moved upwardly on the pole 1, thereby preventing an over-movementof umbrella cover,

' in a number of ways, but we preferasla matter ot;

simplicity and economyto provide semicircular bends 28 on the bows 6 for said p'urpose,,the,bows 6 being bent inwardly as shownso as to engage the pole 1 at points substantially above the. geats 8. Thus when the frame is collapsedt'o .a.-maxi,

mum extent the pins 24 whichhingedly connect the braces 7 with the bows 6 will be-disposed out wardly of a vertical line fm ttirigJthel axes of the pins 16 on the top notch and similar pins'f29 on sleeve 5- which serve to hingedly connect the braces '7 with said sleeveQ ln other. words,the bends 28 in the bows prevent the mnpa of the frame so that the toggle connections formedby the bows and braces will reach dead center .position, Due to this structure,.when..the pole 1 held upright with the umbrella and'frame 'downe wardly in operative pos'itiorrf th el weight ofthe frame alone is sufiicient to cause the complete opening of the umbrella.

,The sleeve 5 has an elongated tubular body 30 with a plurality of lugs 31, 31jetc., bent outwardly therefrom in a common hor'izontalplanetoproa vide seats for a flange -32-which is positioned over the body 30 and rests upon said lugs. Aretain, ing ring 33 is positioned over the .upperportion. of thebody 30 and rests upon theiiange 32.; .Slaid ring 33 has a tubular neck 34 which extends up; wardly over but-terminates short of.- the; upper extremity of the body 30 so that when the. mem bers 32 and 33 are properly positioned onthe body 30 the upper extremity 35 of the bodygmaybe rolled outwardly and downwardly-over" the upper edge of neck 34- so' as to permanently lock .and hold the members 30, 32-and 33intelescoping positions' I -.-1;:

portions 38 formed on the lower extremities of braces 7 and said flat portions are hingedly held '-""in the slits 39 between the adjacent pairs of seg- Other extensions 22, 22 continue downwardly:-

The members 32 and 33 are provided with superposed segments 36 and 37, respectively, formed thereon and separated by slits, as at 38, as in the case of the top notch 4. The segments 36 of the lower member 32 are bent upwardly and downwardly over the outer edges of the segments 3'lreverselyofv the top notch 4 so as to provide bearin'gsiorjpiris 29 between each pair of segment scene 37'. The pins 29 are carried in fiat ments...Thus the braces are hingedly connected to sle eveain substantially the same manner as the. bows fiare connected to the top notch 4.

The entire framenis a unitary structure when assembled in the manner shown and described,

.The entire structure is simple, economical, rigid anddu'rable." I I a The. provision of means cooperating with or on the bows'or polejl for limiting the inward swinging of the bows, and braces in the direction of the pole so that. an angle slightly less than is formedfb'y'each oflthev bowfand brace sets when the.structure isv collapsedwith the baseline of the angle cutting. thepins 16' and '29,fone side of the angle cutting pins .16 andl24 and the other side of the angle: cutting f pins 24' and 29, provides a highly desirable structure, I for the reasons stated.-

Other advantages will readily appear to those skilled in the art; u a A; What we claim;is;. I I 'In an umbrella structure comprising, a bow attaching member adapted to engage a supporting pole, bows hingedly supported on said attaching member, "and means provided on saidbows for 1] limiting the movement of said bows toward the pole, when the structureis collapsed, to an extent which ;will dispose the vbowsand braces at or. be-- yond dead centerpositions. .7 a

2. An umbrella structure comprising a, pole, a m

frame including bows extensibly mounted relative to.thepole,andmeans-on-said bows to limit the movement of the'bows in the -direction ofthe pole,;whereby' toprevent the locking of said frame on or beyond dead center positions. v V

.3.;. umbrella structure 1 comprising a pole having agtop notchfixedthereto, bows pivotally connected-to said=top notch said bows having means thereon at corresponding points below said tong-notch;forengagement with a portion of-said m pole to prevent the-disposition of saidbows ator beyondgdead' cente positions when the frame is collapsed.- q

Y l I a p -4.'-An umbrella structure comprising. a pole, a frame'including .a plurality ofbows hingedly 13B supported for extension and retraction relative. to said pole, and -means below said hinged conneetions for limiting the inward movement of said bows when saidframe is collapsed.

5: -An umbrella structure comprising a pole, a 1) frame including a plurality of bows hingedly supported on=said pole at correspondingly fixed points and adjustably supported -1 at points correspondingly. spaced. from said fixed points,1and -means intermediatesa'id fixed and adjustable points of 14} supportfor limiting the inward movement of the bows when the frame iscollapsed.

umbrellastructure comprising a pole, a frame including a plurality: of bows each extensiblysupported at a point spaced longitudinally of the bow from a fixed point, and means intermediate said points, for limiting the inward movement of the frame when the frame is collapsed.

'7. An umbrella structure comprising a pole, a frame thereon including a plurality of bows hingedly supported for extension and retraction to said pole, and means below said hinged connections and carried by said bows for limiting the inward movement of said frame when the frame is collapsed.

8. An umbrella structure comprising a pole, a frame including a plurality of bows each extensibly supported at a longitudinally spaced point from a fixed point of support, and means on each bow intermediate said points of support, for limiting the inward movement of the frame when it is collapsed.

9. An umbrella structure comprising a pole, a frame including a plurality of bows hingedly mounted at their upper ends at corerspondingly fixed points and adjustably supported at points substantially remote therefrom, for extending and retracting said frame, and means on said respective bows intermediate said fixed and adjustable points of support, for limiting the inward movement of the frame when it is collapsed.

10. In an umbrella frame adapted to be supported on a pole, a plurality of bows having means thereon spaced from the points of support on said pole for engagement with said pole, for preventing the complete collapse of said frame.

11. In an umbrella structure a frame including a plurality of bows, a supporting member therefor, and means formed on said bows for engaging and limiting the movement of said frame in the direction of said supporting member beyond a predetermined point.

12. In an umbrella structure a frame including a plurality of bows movably supported for extension and retraction relative to a supporting memher, said bows each having a portion bent outwardly from its longitudinal axis for engagement with and for limiting the movement of said bows in the direction of said supporting member.

KENNETH T. NORRIS. HOMER E. RATHBUN. 

